Fragments Gallery
On the White Steps
Ravens circled the skies high above the cathedral entrance. It might have been close to midday, but it was hard to tell as the sun was shrouded in clouds. One raven, bolder than the rest, ventured down towards the earth gliding past the cathedral's bulbous central tower and the tips of the pure white columns to come to a rest near the foot of the marble stairs. Once those stairs had been as white as the columns but now… now they were painted a different colour. Alone amidst the carnage a figure rested on the steps. The raven landed nearby and began its grizzly feast in silence.
Blood dripped from the gleaming blade that she had lain across her lap. Her naturally red locks lankly fell around her grimy and tired face. Congealed blood coated her clothing and stained the light tan of her leather armour to a deep roan. Her clothing, or that of it which remained its original colour, was black with a sky blue trim, while her armour was both tan leather and silver steel. The garb of empire soldiers.
A short time ago she had been busy, but now she was alone.
One hand idly caressed the hilt of the blade while the other hung loosely at her side resting on the marble steps. Her skin was shockingly pale against the patches of blood splattered across her body. Very little of the blood was hers, most of it was theirs.
They lay all around, loosely sprawled like scattered dolls around the steps and the great doors leading to the cathedral. Multitudes of people in grey steel armour trimmed with flowing black cloth, ribbons of red leading from the bodies provided a stunning accent to each individual as they lay precisely where she had left them. There almost seemed to be some meaning or design to their positions. Almost.
A figure approached the cathedral, shock written across his face. His garb was similar to hers except it was pristine, the only blemishes on it caused by dust. When he saw her motionless on the steps he cursed and then increased his speed, quickly crossing the silent square. In moment's he was at her side.
"Kel!"
Her eyes slid open revealing orbs cored with a vibrant blue. She briefly stared up at him before letting her eyes fall shut once more.
"Gods Kel, you killed them all," He said, relieved that she was alive, "The commander just asked you to stall them for as long as you could before falling back to the cathedral. You just had to lead them off, you didn’t have to fight."
"Where's that backup you were supposed to bring?" She asked her voice little more than a croaking rasp.
"They're back there a ways, they'll be coming soon," He responded with a gesture as he pulled a skin of water from his belt, "I was sent ahead to scout because I knew the area and it was too quiet up here."
"Thanks Gaul," she said accepting the water, "Mine was shredded. A bit."
"I'm not surprised."
Wordlessly she grinned and then pulled a tattered bundle of leather from her belt and tossed it to the ground before him.
After another long swallow of the lukewarm water she said, "I think I'll need a new one."
Shouts from the edge of the square in front of the cathedral alerted them to the arrival of more soldiers. The soldiers walked slowly into the square gaping at their surroundings. Their expressions of shock grew as they realized that Kel and her companion were the only two on the steps wearing imperial colours.
Gaul leaned towards Kel and reached out a hand, "We should head over there. You're going to have some explaining to do."
Kel grimaced and took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. "So I will. Thanks Gaul."
“Anytime.”